Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Significant Relationships (significant + relationships)
Selected AbstractsConflict resolution among early childhood educatorsCONFLICT RESOLUTION QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2008Sandy Jenkins Little attention has been given to conflict resolution in preschools. Early childhood educators working with children aged three to five completed a ten-to fifteen-minute survey to examine their attitudes and practices toward conflict. This study explored the types of conflict resolution strategies they used and thought were effective in their classrooms. The strategies were also examined in relation to the demographic characteristics of the participants. Results indicated that educators used cooperative strategies in their classrooms. Significant relationships were demonstrated involving the types of strategies used and demographic factors. [source] Soil factors controlling the toxicity of copper and zinc to microbial processes in Australian soilsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2007Kris Broos Abstract Two soil microbial processes, substrate-induced nitrification (SIN) and substrate-induced respiration (SIR), were measured in the topsoils of 12 Australian field trials that were amended separately with increasing concentrations of ZnSO4 or CuSO4. The median effect concentration (EC50) values for Zn and Cu based on total metal concentrations varied between 107 and 8,298 mg kg,1 for Zn and 108 and 2,155 mg kg,1 Cu among soils. The differences in both Zn and Cu toxicity across the 12 soils were not explained by either the soil solution metal concentrations or CaCl2 -extractable metal concentrations, because the variation in the EC50 values was larger than those using total concentrations. Toxicity of Zn and Cu decreased with increasing soil pH for SIN. For Cu, also increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC) and percent clay decreased the toxicity towards SIN. In contrast to SIN, soil pH had no significant effect on toxicity values of SIR. Significant relationships were found between the EC50 values for SIR and background Zn and CEC for Zn, and percent clay and log CEC for Cu. Relationships such as those developed in this study will permit Australian environmental regulation to move from single-value national soil quality guidelines to soil-specific quality guidelines and permit soil-specific risk assessments to be undertaken. [source] Environmental polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and cytochromes P450 in raccoons (Procyon lotor),ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2003Philip N. Smith Abstract An investigation involving raccoons as a sentinel species at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) and Ballard Wildlife Management Area in western Kentucky (USA) delineated the extent of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Three separate measures of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction were used to evaluate raccoon physiological responses to PCB exposure. Hepatic CYP induction was estimated via determination of total CYP, dealkylase activities, and immunoreactive proteins. There were no differences in raccoon biomarker responses between study sites. Significant relationships between and among PCB residues and biomarkers indicated that hepatic CYP induction had occurred in response to PCB exposure. Pentoxy-resorufin O -deethylase (PROD) activity, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2 were biomarkers most closely associated with PCB exposure. The rank order of responses was CYP1A1 > CYP1A2 > PROD > ethoxyresorufin O -deethylase (EROD) as related to raccoon liver PCB concentrations, whereas the order was CYP1A1 > PROD > EROD > CYP1A2 when regressed with total PCB concentrations in abdominal fat. [source] Prevalence and outcome of asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a population-based ultrasonographic studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2002P. P. Mineva The aims of this epidemiological population-based cohort study were to examine the prevalence and outcomes of asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) detected by duplex scanning and its relations to other vascular risk factors. A total of 500 volunteers, 200 men and 300 women, without signs and symptoms of cerebrovascular disease, aged 50,79 years, were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of ACS of 50% or greater was 6.4%. Only severe carotid stenosis was detected in 0.4% of the subjects examined. Significant relationships between ACS and coronary heart disease (CHD) [odds ratio (OR)=8.00], peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (OR=3.66), cigarette smoking in men (OR=4.39) and obesity in women (OR=0.31) were found. The biennial incidence rate of cerebral ischaemic events was 9.4%. A progression of ACS was revealed in 14% and a regression in 6.25% of the subjects. The patients with progressing ACS to more than 70% diameter reduction reached the end-points. Follow-up with repeated duplex scans in patients with advancing ACS of 50% or greater, especially smokers with CHD and PAD, is recommended. [source] Interannual changes in sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) recruitment in relation to oceanographic conditions within the California Current SystemFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2006MICHAEL J. SCHIRRIPA Abstract Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) supports substantial fisheries in both the eastern and western Pacific Oceans. Juvenile recruitment along the west coast of the continental United States has been highly variable over the past three decades. Using a generalized additive model, we demonstrate that physical oceanographic variables within the California Current System have significant effects on sablefish recruitment. Significant relationships were found between juvenile recruitment and northward Ekman transport, eastward Ekman transport, and sea level during key times and at key locations within the habitat of this species. The model explains nearly 70% of the variability in sablefish recruitment between the years 1974 and 2000. The predictive power of the model was demonstrated by refitting without the last 5 yr of data and subsequent prediction of those years. Bootstrap assessments of bias associated with parameter estimates and jackknife-after-bootstrap assessments of the influence of individual data on parameter estimates are presented and discussed. Using this model, it is possible to draw preliminary conclusions concerning year-class strength of cohorts not yet available to the survey gear as well as historic year-class strengths. We discuss changes in zooplankton abundance and shifts in species of copepods associated with fluctuations in the physical variables that appear to have a major influence on sablefish recruitment. [source] Using extracurricular activity as an indicator of interpersonal skill: Prudent evaluation or recruiting malpractice?HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2002Robert S. Rubin There is widespread agreement that success in organizations requires more than high intellect. Thus, college recruiters commonly examine job candidates' extracurricular activities in search of "well-rounded," emotionally intelligent, and interpersonally skilled students. Intuitively, extracurricular activities seem like valuable student experiences; however, research evidence is sparse, suggesting far more questions than answers. Is participation in extracurricular activity truly linked to interpersonal skill performance? Does leadership experience make a difference? Do extracurricular experiences yield higher skill development? Six hundred eighteen business students and the relationship of their extracurricular involvement to four interpersonal skills were examined. Significant relationships were found and recruitment implications are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Effects of ecogeographic variables on genetic variation in montane mammals: implications for conservation in a global warming scenarioJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2007Amy M. Ditto Abstract Aim, Evolutionary theory predicts that levels of genetic variation in island populations will be positively correlated with island area and negatively correlated with island isolation. These patterns have been empirically established for oceanic islands, but little is known about the determinants of variation on habitat islands. The goals of this study were twofold. Our first aim was to test whether published patterns of genetic variation in mammals occurring on montane habitat islands in the American Southwest conformed to expectations based on evolutionary theory. The second aim of this research was to develop simple heuristic models to predict changes in genetic variation that may occur in these populations as a result of reductions in available mountaintop habitat in response to global warming. Location, Habitat islands of conifer forest on mountaintops in the American Southwest. Methods, Relationships between island area and isolation with measures of allozyme variation in four species of small mammal, namely the least chipmunk (Tamias minimus), Colorado chipmunk (Tamias quadrivittatus), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), and Mexican woodrat (Neotoma mexicana), were determined using correlation and regression techniques. Significant relationships between island area and genetic variation were used to develop three distinct statistical models with which to predict changes in genetic variation following reduction in insular habitat area arising from global warming. Results, Patterns of genetic variation in each species conformed to evolutionary predictions. In general, island area was the most important determinant of heterozygosity, while island isolation was the most important determinant of polymorphism and allelic diversity. The heuristic models predicted widespread reductions in genetic variation, the extent of which depended on the population and model considered. Main conclusions, The results support a generalized pattern of genetic variation for any species with an insular distribution, with reduced variation in smaller, more isolated populations. We predict widespread reductions in genetic variation in isolated populations of montane small mammals in the American Southwest as a result of global warming. We conclude that climate-induced reductions in the various dimensions of genetic variation may increase the probability of population extinction in both the short and long term. [source] Fractal Dimension of Trabecular Bone Projection Texture Is Related to Three-Dimensional MicroarchitectureJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2000L. Pothuaud Abstract The purpose of this work was to understand how fractal dimension of two-dimensional (2D) trabecular bone projection images could be related to three-dimensional (3D) trabecular bone properties such as porosity or connectivity. Two alteration processes were applied to trabecular bone images obtained by magnetic resonance imaging: a trabeculae dilation process and a trabeculae removal process. The trabeculae dilation process was applied from the 3D skeleton graph to the 3D initial structure with constant connectivity. The trabeculae removal process was applied from the initial structure to an altered structure having 99% of porosity, in which both porosity and connectivity were modified during this second process. Gray-level projection images of each of the altered structures were simply obtained by summation of voxels, and fractal dimension (Df) was calculated. Porosity (,) and connectivity per unit volume (Cv) were calculated from the 3D structure. Significant relationships were found between Df, ,, and Cv. Df values increased when porosity increased (dilation and removal processes) and when connectivity decreased (only removal process). These variations were in accordance with all previous clinical studies, suggesting that fractal evaluation of trabecular bone projection has real meaning in terms of porosity and connectivity of the 3D architecture. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant linear dependence between Df and Cv when , remained constant. Porosity is directly related to bone mineral density and fractal dimension can be easily evaluated in clinical routine. These two parameters could be associated to evaluate the connectivity of the structure. [source] Relationships among perceptions of parent involvement, time allocation, and demographic characteristics: Implication for policy formationJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2002Shulamit N. Ritblatt Variables that facilitate or hinder parent involvement (PI) in education and schools were explored, along with the amounts of time parents spent in various activities. A total of 506 participants from San Diego and Imperial Counties completed the first part of the study (1) designed to assess parents' beliefs about involvement with their child's school and education. Of these same participants, 357 self-selected parents also chose to complete a second part of the study (2) that assessed the amount of time parents spend in education-related activities. Factor analysis of the 506 participant responses revealed four school perception factors related to parent attitudes: (a) communication, (b) familiarity, (c) sensitivity, and (d) support. Factor analysis of the 357 participant responses to the time factors also revealed four involvement areas: (a) general school issues, (b) specific school issues, (c) extracurricular school activities, and (d) specific help. Significant relationships were found among three of the attitudinal factors (sensitivity, familiarity, and support) and various time factors, including total involvement time, general issues, specific problems, and extracurricular issues. Further, significant differences among means were found for both the school perception factors and the time factors based on ethnic background, income, and marital status. Recommendations for increasing parent involvement and formulating public policy are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Job satisfaction and employee perception of the learning environment in the health care management industryJOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP STUDIES, Issue 4 2008Ernest W. Brewer This study examines the relationship between job satisfaction and perception of the learning environment of administrative employees and differences in job satisfaction in terms of age, education, ethnicity, gender, location, marital status, position classification, and years of service. A total of 261 administrative employees of a national health care management organization participated in the survey. Major findings of this study revealed significant differences in some subcategories of job satisfaction and perceptions of learning environment in the respondents' ethnicity, age, and office location. Significant relationships were also found between job satisfaction, the perceived learning environment, and facets of the learning environment. [source] Family history, self-perceptions, attitudes and cognitive abilities are associated with early adolescent reading skillsJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN READING, Issue 1 2006Elizabeth G. Conlon This study evaluated a model of reading skills among early adolescents (N=174). Measures of family history, achievement, cognitive processes and self-perceptions of abilities were obtained. Significant relationships were found between family history and children's single-word reading skills, spelling, reading comprehension, orthographic processing and children's perceived reading competence. While children with poor reading skills were five times more likely to come from a family with a history of reading difficulties, this measure did not account for additional variance in reading performance after other variables were included. Phonological, orthographic, rapid sequencing and children's perceived reading competence made significant independent contributions towards reading and spelling outcomes. Reading comprehension was explained by orthographic processing, nonverbal ability, children's attitudes towards reading and word identification. Thus, knowledge of family history and children's attitudes and perceptions towards reading provides important additional information when evaluating reading skills among a normative sample of early adolescents. [source] Relationship of resident characteristics, attitudes, prior training and clinical knowledge to communication skills performanceMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2006Toni Suzuki Laidlaw Purpose, A substantial body of literature demonstrates that communication skills in medicine can be taught and retained through teaching and practice. Considerable evidence also reveals that characteristics such as gender, age, language and attitudes affect communication skills performance. Our study examined the characteristics, attitudes and prior communication skills training of residents to determine the relationship of each to patient,doctor communication. The relationship between communication skills proficiency and clinical knowledge application (biomedical and ethical) was also examined through the use of doctor-developed clinical content checklists, as very little research has been conducted in this area. Methods, A total of 78 first- and second-year residents across all departments at Dalhousie Medical School participated in a videotaped 4-station objective structured clinical examination presenting a range of communication and clinical knowledge challenges. A variety of instruments were used to gather information and assess performance. Two expert raters evaluated the videotapes. Results, Significant relationships were observed between resident characteristics, prior communication skills training, clinical knowledge and communication skills performance. Females, younger residents and residents with English as first language scored significantly higher, as did residents with prior communication skills training. A significant positive relationship was found between the clinical content checklist and communication performance. Gender was the only characteristic related significantly to attitudes. Conclusions, Gender, age, language and prior communication skills training are related to communication skills performance and have implications for resident education. The positive relationship between communication skills proficiency and clinical knowledge application is important and should be explored further. [source] Psychometric Assessment of the Brazilian Version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy ScalePUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 6 2009Mônica O. B. Oriá ABSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of this study was to translate and psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) among women living in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, and examine the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) and maternal demographic variables. Design and Sample: This methodological study is the first translation of BSES conducted in South America. The psychometric assessment of the original study was replicated. This methodological study enrolled a group (sample of judgment) of 117 pregnant women. Measures: BSES and maternal sociodemographic variables were studied. Results: The Cronbach's , coefficient for the translated BSES was .88. Significant differences in BSES scores were found among mothers with a previous satisfactory breastfeeding experience (M=145.81; SD=±6.82, p=.0001). Significant relationships were found among prenatal BSE and maternal age (r=.228; p=.01), educational level (r=.234; p=.01), and marital status (r=.183; p=.04). No relationship was found among BSE and maternal occupation, family income, or number of pregnancies. Conclusions: Altogether, our findings suggest that BSES translated into Portuguese may be a reliable and valid measure to assess maternal BSE in Brazilian culture. Minor changes may be needed to use it in other Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Portugal and Mozambique. [source] Fifteen-Count Breathlessness Score in adults with COPDRESPIROLOGY, Issue 5 2006Marie WILLIAMS Objective and background: The Fifteen-Count Breathlessness Score (15CBS) has been reported to quantify breathlessness. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the 15CBS in adults with COPD. Methods: Using an observational correlation design, subjects with clinical signs and symptoms of COPD were videotaped performing the 15CBS at a self-selected (task 1) and an 8-s counting pace (task 2), on two occasions with 5-min rest between attempts. Respiratory-related quality of life questionnaires, self-report shortness of breath measures and pulmonary function tests were completed by all subjects. Results: Thirty subjects completed the protocol. No significant differences and good linear relationships were calculated for the 15CBS within subjects (task 1 P = 0.32, r = 0.75 and task 2 P = 1.00, r = 0.86) and between assessors (task 1 P = 0.57, r = 0.99 and task 2 P = 0.21, r = 0.75). No significant relationships were evident between the 15CBS and shortness of breath or quality of life scores. Significant relationships existed between the 15CBS and FVC (litres and per cent predicted). Conclusion: Most subjects completed the 15CBS using one breath, limiting discrimination between subjects with differing degrees of breathlessness. Although data from this study confirmed that the 15CBS is a reliable procedure within people with COPD, further modification is required to increase the validity and discriminative ability of this instrument. [source] Macrophage migration inhibitory factor promoter polymorphisms and the clinical expression of sclerodermaARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 11 2006Sou-Pan Wu Objective To investigate the potential association between functional polymorphisms in the gene for the innate mediator, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and the clinical expression of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods Genomic DNA samples and clinical data were collected from the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. A total of 740 subjects were studied; 203 of them had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), 283 had limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), and the remaining 254 healthy subjects served as controls. Association analyses were performed on the whole data set and on patient and sex subsets. Significant relationships were determined between clinical variables and MIF polymorphisms for each disease subtype in the studied groups. Results The frequency of the ,173*C MIF allele, which was previously reported to be associated with high production of MIF, was lower in the lcSSc group (12.6%) than in the dcSSc (19.2%) or control (18.5%) groups (P = 0.010 and P = 0.011, respectively). Haplotype analysis for 2 closely linked polymorphisms in the MIF promoter showed that in white subjects with lcSSc or dcSSc, the lcSSc population had a significantly lower representation of the high-expression MIF haplotype defined by ,173*C and ,794 with 7 CATT repeats (C7) (P = 0.015, odds ratio 1.94 [95% confidence interval 1.14,3.32]). Fibroblasts encoding the C7 MIF haplotype were observed to produce more MIF upon in vitro stimulation than those with a non-C7 haplotype. Conclusion Functional promoter polymorphisms in the MIF gene affect the clinical presentation of SSc. The proinflammatory haplotype defined by C7 is underrepresented in patients with lcSSc. [source] Tree Diversity, Forest Structure and Productivity along Altitudinal and Topographical Gradients in a Species-Rich Ecuadorian Montane Rain ForestBIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2010Jürgen Homeier ABSTRACT We studied the spatial heterogeneity of tree diversity, and of forest structure and productivity in a highly diverse tropical mountain area in southern Ecuador with the aim of understanding the causes of the large variation in these parameters. Two major environmental gradients, elevation and topography, representing a broad range of climatic and edaphic site conditions, were analyzed. We found the highest species richness of trees in valleys <2100 m. Valleys showed highest values of basal area, leaf area index and tree basal area increment as well. Tree diversity also increased from ridges to valleys, while canopy openness decreased. Significant relationships existed between tree diversity and soil parameters (pH, total contents of Mg, K, Ca, N and P), and between diversity and the spatial variability of pH and Ca and Mg contents suggesting a dependence of tree diversity on both absolute levels and on the small-scale heterogeneity of soil nutrient availability. Tree diversity and basal area increment were positively correlated, partly because both are similarly affected by soil conditions. We conclude that the extraordinarily high tree species richness in the area is primarily caused by three factors: (1) the existence of steep altitudinal and topographic gradients in a rather limited area creating a small-scale mosaic of edaphically different habitats; (2) the intermingling of Amazonian lowland plant species, that reach their upper distribution limits, and of montane forest species; and (3) the geographical position of the study area between the humid eastern Andean slope and the dry interandean forests of South Ecuador. [source] Landscape Patterns of Tropical Forest Recovery in the Republic of Palau,BIOTROPICA, Issue 4 2001Bryan A. Endress ABSTRACT A GIS (geographic information systems) database was constructed from aerial photographs, a vegetation map, and topographic map data of the Ngeremeduu Bay Drainage Area (NBDA), Palau, to examine relationships between upland land cover dynamics, environmental variables, and past land use. In 1992, 82.9 percent of the NBDA was forest, 16.6 percent was grassland, and 0.5 percent consisted of village areas. Between 1947 and 1992, there was a 11.2 percent reduction of grassland area primarily due to a 10.9 percent increase in forest cover. These land cover changes led to larger, more continuous stretches of forest and numerous, highly fragmented grassland patches. Significant relationships (P 0.001) were found between the spatial distribution of forest and grassland cover and slope, elevation, soil pH, and percent soil organic matter. These patterns, however, may have resulted from past farm site selection rather than from ecological relationships. Our results indicate that areas of forest expansion were significantly (P 0.001) associated with the location of abandoned agricultural communities. In addition, over 92 percent of areas of forest expansion occurred within 100 m of established forest. These results suggest that the proximity of established forest facilitate forest recovery following human disturbance. [source] Plasma concentrations of haloperidol are related to CYP2D6 genotype at low, but not high doses of haloperidol in Korean schizophrenic patientsBRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Hyung-Keun Roh Aims, This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of CYP2D6 genotype on the steady state plasma concentrations of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol in Korean schizophrenic patients. Methods, One hundred and twenty Korean schizophrenic patients treated with various, clinically determined, doses of haloperidol (range 3,60, median 20 mg day,1) during monotherapy were recruited. CYP2D6 genotypes were determined by analysis of the CYP2D6*10 allele using allele-specific PCR and the CYP2D6*5 allele by long-PCR. Steady state plasma concentrations of haloperidol and reduced haloperidol were analysed by h.p.l.c. Results, Twenty-three (19.2%), 60 (50.0%), 1 (0.8%), 33 (27.5%) and 3 patients (2.5%) possessed the CYP2D6 genotypes *1/*1, *1/*10, *1/*5, *10/*10 and *10/*5, respectively. The allele frequencies of CYP2D6*1, *10 and *5 were 44.6%, 53.8% and 1.7%, respectively. Significant relationships between dose and plasma concentrations of haloperidol (linear; r2 = 0.60, P < 0.0001) and reduced haloperidol (quadratic equation; r2 = 0.67) were observed. Overall, the concentrations normalized for dose (C/D) of haloperidol were significantly different between the CYP2D6*1/*1, *1/*10 and*10/*10 genotype groups (one-way anova; P = 0.028). No significant differences between the genotype groups were found with respect to the C/D of reduced haloperidol (P = 0.755). However, in patients with daily doses less than 20 mg, significant differences in the C/D of haloperidol (P = 0.003), but not of reduced haloperidol, were found between the three major genotype groups. In patients with doses higher than 20 mg, no differences were found between the genotype groups for either haloperidol or reduced haloperidol. 68 patients (57%) used benztropine, an antimuscarinic agent. All four patients with a *5 allele (one together with *1 and three with *10) were found to use benztropine. The patients homozygous for the *1 allele seemed to need less benztropine than the patients with one or two mutated alleles (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.036). Conclusions, The dose-corrected steady state plasma concentrations of haloperidol, but not of reduced haloperidol, were significantly different between the CYP2D6*1/*1, *1/*10 and *10/*10 genotype groups when doses lower than 20 mg haloperidol were given. No differences were found at higher doses. These results suggest the involvement of CYP2D6 in the metabolism of haloperidol at low doses of haloperidol (< 20 mg daily), while another enzyme, probably CYP3A4, contributes at higher doses. [source] Serum ,-glutamyltransferase within its normal concentration range is related to the presence of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factorsDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 9 2005D.-J. Kim Abstract Aims Although many studies have reported an association between serum ,-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and cardiovascular risk factors, the mechanism of this relationship has not been clarified. Methods The medical records of 29 959 subjects (age, median 48, range 14,90 years; 16 706 men, 13 253 women) who visited the Center for Health Promotion at Samsung Medical Center for a medical check-up between January 2001 and December 2003, were investigated. Subjects with hepatic enzyme/GGT concentrations higher than three times the upper limit of the reference range, a positive test for hepatitis C virus antibody, a positive test for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, currently taking anti-diabetic/anti-hypertensive/anti-lipid medication, or a white blood cell (WBC) count higher than 10 000 cells/ml, were excluded. The subjects of each gender were classified into five groups according to their serum GGT concentrations, into quartiles of the normal range of GGT (groups 1, 2, 3 and 4) and into a group with elevated GGT (group 5). Results As the group number increased (group 1 , 5), the frequencies of all of the following increased: (i) diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG); (ii) hypertension, obesity (body mass index , 27 kg/m2), dyslipidaemia (LDL-cholesterol , 4.1 mmol/l and/or triglyceride , 2.46 mmol/l, or HDL-cholesterol < 1.16 mmol/l); (iii) metabolic syndrome. Moreover, these significant relationships between GGT concentrations within its normal range and the presence of diabetes/IFG, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidaemia, and metabolic syndrome persisted after adjusting for several clinical and biochemical variables and for the presence of fatty liver based on ultrasonographic findings. Odds ratios (95% CI) for group 4 (highest quartile of normal range of GGT) vs. group 1 (lowest quartile of normal range of GGT); the referent group, were 3.16 (2.15,4.65) for diabetes, 2.24 (1.73,2.90) for IFG, 1.93 (1.59,2.33) for obesity, 1.38 (1.23,1.55) for dyslipidaemia and 2.88 (2.28,3.65) for metabolic syndrome in men. In women, the odds ratios were 2.72 (1.34,5.52), 3.67 (2.26,5.97), 2.10 (1.61,2.74), 1.80 (1.58,2.04) and 3.57 (2.52,5.07), respectively. Conclusions Our data show that, even within its normal range, serum GGT concentrations are closely associated with the presence of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors, and that these associations are independent of a fatty liver by ultrasonography. [source] Assessment of the predictive value of clinical and histopathological factors as well as the immunoexpression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in response to preoperative chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinomaDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 3 2000J. Szumilo The aim of the study was to determine the predictive value of selected clinical and histopathological factors as well as the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in the prediction of the pathological response to preoperative chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Thirty-four patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus (T2,4 N0,1 M0), who underwent one cycle of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil therapy followed by subtotal esophagectomy, were studied. All clinical factors (tumor longitudinal diameter in a computed tomographic scan, invasion depth, the presence of lymph node metastasis and clinical tumor staging) were evaluated before the onset of the therapy. The histopathological features (grade of differentiation, degree of keratinization, nuclear polymorphism, mitotic index, pattern of cancer invasion and inflammatory response), and the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins were also estimated in prechemotherapy endoscopic biopsy specimens. Pathological response to chemotherapy was assessed in surgically resected specimens. Of 34 patients, two (5.9%) showed complete response (CR), six patients (17.6%) exhibited major histological changes (partial response 1; PR1), 24 (70.6%) showed minor histological changes (partial response 2; PR2), and two patients (5.9%) exhibited no response to chemotherapy (stable disease; SD). There were no significant relationships between the response to preoperative chemotherapy (CR + PR1 vs. PR2 + SD) and the majority of the clinical and all the histopathological features. Deeper cancer invasion before chemotherapy was the only factor that tended to worsen the therapy effect (p < 0.01). The pathological response to treatment had no significant associations with the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. It should be noted, however, that both patients in CR were p53 and bcl-2 protein-negative. [source] Elevated dominance of extrafloral nectary-bearing plants is associated with increased abundances of an invasive ant and reduced native ant richnessDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2009Amy M. Savage Abstract Aim, Invasive ants can have substantial and detrimental effects on co-occurring community members, especially other ants. However, the ecological factors that promote both their population growth and their negative influences remain elusive. Opportunistic associations between invasive ants and extrafloral nectary (EFN)-bearing plants are common and may fuel population expansion and subsequent impacts of invasive ants on native communities. We examined three predictions of this hypothesis, compared ant assemblages between invaded and uninvaded sites and assessed the extent of this species in Samoa. Location, The Samoan Archipelago (six islands and 35 sites). Methods, We surveyed abundances of the invasive ant Anoplolepis gracilipes, other ant species and EFN-bearing plants. Results,Anoplolepis gracilipes was significantly more widely distributed in 2006 than in 1962, suggesting that the invasion of A. gracilipes in Samoa has progressed. Furthermore, (non- A. gracilipes) ant assemblages differed significantly between invaded and uninvaded sites. Anoplolepis gracilipes workers were found more frequently at nectaries than other plant parts, suggesting that nectar resources were important to this species. There was a strong, positive relationship between the dominance of EFN-bearing plants in the community and A. gracilipes abundance on plants, a relationship that co-occurring ants did not display. High abundances of A. gracilipes at sites dominated by EFN-bearing plants were associated with low species richness of native plant-visiting ant species. Anoplolepis gracilipes did not display any significant relationships with the diversity of other non-native ants. Main conclusions, Together, these data suggest that EFN-bearing plants may promote negative impacts of A. gracilipes on co-occurring ants across broad spatial scales. This study underscores the potential importance of positive interactions in the dynamics of species invasions. Furthermore, they suggest that conservation managers may benefit from explicit considerations of potential positive interactions in predicting the identities of problematic invaders or the outcomes of species invasions. [source] Are there general rules governing parasite diversity?DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 3 2007Small mammalian hosts, gamasid mite assemblages ABSTRACT Parasite biodiversity varies on several scales, and in particular among different host species. Previous attempts at finding relationships between host features and the diversity of the parasite assemblages they harbour have yielded inconsistent results, suggesting strongly that any patterns might be taxon-specific. Here, we examined the potential of three host characteristics (host body mass, basal metabolic rate, and area of the geographical range) as determinants of parasite diversity in one group of ectoparasites, gamasid mites (superfamily Dermanyssoidea), using data from 63 species of small mammalian hosts. Our analyses used three measures of parasite diversity (species richness, the Shannon diversity index, and average taxonomic distinctness), and controlled for sampling effort and phylogenetic influences. Although several significant relationships were observed, they depended entirely on which diversity measure was used, or on which host taxon was investigated (insectivores vs. rodents and lagomorphs). In addition, the present results on patterns of mite diversity were not consistent with those of an earlier study involving roughly the same host taxa and the same biogeographical area, but a different group of ectoparasites, i.e. fleas. Thus, there appears to be no universal determinant of parasite diversity, and associations between host features and parasite diversity probably evolve independently in different host,parasite systems. [source] Substance use and the prediction of young offender recidivismDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2003ALDIS L. PUTNI Abstract The problem considered is whether self-reported substance use can be used in the estimation of recidivism risk among youths placed in secure care. The Secure Care Psychosocial Screening (SECAPS) and offending records of 447 youths admitted to detention centres in South Australia were examined. The target outcome was any new offending within 6 months of release. Use of a psychoactive substance at the time of committing the most recent offence was not a significant predictor of subsequent offending, nor was acknowledging having a problem with drug or alcohol use. In relation to the recent use of alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens, sedatives/hypnotics, narcotics, stimulants and inhalants, only the use of alcohol and inhalants appeared to have significant relationships with recidivism. While the relationships were too small to permit using these items on their own to estimate re-offending risk, recent alcohol and inhalant use could be included as part of a broader recidivism risk assessment. [source] Balancing and pointing tasks in dyslexic and control adultsDYSLEXIA, Issue 4 2006Catherine J. Stoodley Abstract Developmental dyslexia may affect as much as 15% of the population, but the aetiology of the disorder is still being debated. The cerebellar theory of dyslexia proposes that cerebellar dysfunction could lead to the myriad of symptoms seen in dyslexic individuals, both in literacy and non-literacy domains. The cerebellum is crucial to the fluent performance of motor skills. Previous studies have found that dyslexic children are worse than control children on certain motor and balancing tasks. Here the performance of 28 dyslexic compared to 26 control adults on rapid pointing and balancing measures, tasks which are thought to reflect cerebellar function, was investigated. There were no significant differences between the dyslexic and control participants on the balancing tasks or when the speed and accuracy of pointing were analysed separately. However, when the speed and accuracy of pointing were combined, the dyslexic participants showed poorer performance than the controls (p = 0.045). Furthermore, there were significant relationships between performance on the pointing task and literacy skills, and regression analysis showed that the error and speed of pointing contributed significantly to the variance in literacy skill. The implications for the role of the cerebellum and processing speed in dyslexia are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The role of leaf inclination, leaf orientation and plant canopy architecture in soil particle detachment by raindropsEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 12 2005Kirsten Foot Abstract A laboratory investigation of the effect of plant architecture on soil particle detachment by rainfall is described. The effects of leaf inclination, leaf orientation, effective canopy area, leaf area index, leaf subcatchment area, lowest canopy area, largest canopy area, canopy overlap area and an alternative leaf area index are examined using artificial plants. Detachment from a 30 cm diameter splash cup filled with sand (150 µm,1 mm particle size) was measured under three types of plant (small leaved, broad leaved and long narrow leaved) for a 10 minute simulated rainstorm of 75 mm/h intensity. There were no significant differences in soil particle detachment between the three plant types or between detachment under the plants and detachment of bare soil. No significant relationships were obtained between detachment and any of the plant parameters. Soil particle detachment by leaf drips can offset any protective effects of the canopy so that detachment does not differ significantly from that on bare soil. Plant architecture significantly affected the distance from the plant stem at which detachment was concentrated even though the canopy diameters of the plants were similar. There would appear to be no advantages in a detailed description of plant architecture and its effects in process-based models of soil erosion. Parameters such as plant height and plant canopy area are sufficient descriptors for modelling plant effects. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Patterns of endemic extinctions among island bird speciesECOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2002Eric Biber The relationship between island biogeography and the vulnerability of island biota to extinction as a result of human activities was examined. In particular, this study analyzed whether island area, maximum elevation of an island, isolation from the nearest continental landmass, or date of human colonization had statistically significant relationships with the proportion of endemic island bird species that have become endangered or extinct. The study examined islands or island groups with endemic bird species, and which have never been connected to a continental landmass. Both modern and fossil bird species were incorporated into the analysis. Islands that were colonized by humans earliest had the lowest proportion of modern species alone, and modern and fossil species combined, that have gone extinct. However, date of human arrival was not correlated with the proportion of modern species that are endangered. Maximum elevation of an island was negatively correlated with the proportion of modern species that are extinct, and was positively correlated with the proportion of modern species that are endangered. Area was negatively correlated with the proportion of modern species that are endangered. Isolation of islands was not significantly correlated with the proportion of modern species extinct or endangered, but was positively correlated with the proportion of modern and fossil species combined that have gone extinct. These results indicate that the initial spasm of island bird extinctions due to human contact may have, in part, passed. They also indicate that bird species on islands colonized earliest by humans may have had more time to adapt to the presence of man and his commensal species, resulting in reduced extinction rates. [source] Is natural selection a plausible explanation for the distribution of Idh- 1 alleles in the cricket Allonemobius socius?ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Diana L. Huestis Abstract., 1.,Allozyme alleles in natural populations have been proposed as either neutral markers of genetic diversity or the product of natural selection on enzyme function, as amino acid substitutions that change electrophoretic mobility may also alter enzyme performance. To address these possibilities, researchers have used both correlative analyses and empirical studies. 2.,Here, geographically structured variation of the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh- 1) in the striped ground cricket Allonemobius socius Scudder (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is examined. The distributions of Idh- 1 alleles appear to be related to environmental gradients, as allele frequencies showed significant relationships with mean annual temperature and precipitation. Specifically, the slowest mobility allele was more frequent at colder temperatures, while the converse occurred for the fastest mobility allele. 3.,An exploratory experiment was performed to examine fitness effects of possessing different Idh- 1 alleles at two temperatures to test the hypothesis that the geographic structure of this locus may reflect environmental adaptation. Results showed that a significant interaction between temperature and Idh- 1 genotype affected the number of eggs laid, with success of homozygous individuals matching environmental expectations. 4.,The above results show that (1) variation in the frequency of Idh- 1 alleles is significantly related to environmental gradients in the eastern U.S.A. and (2) alternative alleles of Idh- 1 appear to influence the egg-laying ability of individuals differently depending on environmental temperature. Together, these results suggest that natural selection is a plausible mechanism underlying the distribution of Idh- 1 alleles in this species, although more detailed studies are needed. [source] Reproduction biology of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca (L.)) , a reviewECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 2 2003J. Lappalainen Abstract,,, The present review focuses on the reproduction biology of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca (L.)). Aspects like maturity, fecundity, spawning migrations, spawning habitats, onset of spawning, and development time of eggs were reviewed. The onset of maturity is reached at younger age in southern than northern populations due to higher growth rate in the south. Males mature at smaller size and are on average younger than females. Absolute fecundity is closely related to the length and weight, but no clear relationship could be found between relative fecundity and length. Statistically significant relationships were found between the onset of spawning and latitude, and between the duration of the development time of eggs and stable water temperature. Near the southern limits of distribution, the onset of spawning is in February while near the northern limits it is in June. The interannual variability in fecundity and in the onset of maturity and further the factors affecting them have not been studied much. Furthermore, it is not known whether these variations could affect the population dynamics of pikeperch. Little is also known about the actual spawning behaviour of pikeperch in natural habitats. This is probably due to the typical spawning habitats located at 1,3 m depth in waters with high turbidity and low visibility. Even though the homing behaviour to the same spawning areas is well developed in adults, it is not known whether the adults were actually born in the same area. [source] Effects of beverage alcohol price and tax levels on drinking: a meta-analysis of 1003 estimates from 112 studiesADDICTION, Issue 2 2009Alexander C. Wagenaar ABSTRACT Aims We conducted a systematic review of studies examining relationships between measures of beverage alcohol tax or price levels and alcohol sales or self-reported drinking. A total of 112 studies of alcohol tax or price effects were found, containing1003 estimates of the tax/price,consumption relationship. Design Studies included analyses of alternative outcome measures, varying subgroups of the population, several statistical models, and using different units of analysis. Multiple estimates were coded from each study, along with numerous study characteristics. Using reported estimates, standard errors, t -ratios, sample sizes and other statistics, we calculated the partial correlation for the relationship between alcohol price or tax and sales or drinking measures for each major model or subgroup reported within each study. Random-effects models were used to combine studies for inverse variance weighted overall estimates of the magnitude and significance of the relationship between alcohol tax/price and drinking. Findings Simple means of reported elasticities are ,0.46 for beer, ,0.69 for wine and ,0.80 for spirits. Meta-analytical results document the highly significant relationships (P < 0.001) between alcohol tax or price measures and indices of sales or consumption of alcohol (aggregate-level r = ,0.17 for beer, ,0.30 for wine, ,0.29 for spirits and ,0.44 for total alcohol). Price/tax also affects heavy drinking significantly (mean reported elasticity = ,0.28, individual-level r = ,0.01, P < 0.01), but the magnitude of effect is smaller than effects on overall drinking. Conclusions A large literature establishes that beverage alcohol prices and taxes are related inversely to drinking. Effects are large compared to other prevention policies and programs. Public policies that raise prices of alcohol are an effective means to reduce drinking. [source] Evaluating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using a yeast bioassayENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2007Abeer Alnafisi Abstract Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were evaluated for the ability to activate aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor signaling in a yeast-based bioassay. Individual PAHs were classified as inactive or as weakly, moderately, or strongly active based on induction of human Ah receptor signaling. Indeno[1,2,3- cd]pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene were the most potent activators of human Ah receptor signaling. Various mixtures of PAHs had additive or synergistic effects in the bioassay. Environmental samples from the New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) and Detroit (Michigan, USA) areas that were previously analyzed for PAH composition and quantity were tested in this bioassay. Weak but statistically significant relationships were found when the analytically measured levels of PAHs were correlated with sample dilutions that gave 25% effective concentration signaling levels in the Ah receptor assay. We conclude that this Ah receptor signaling assay may be useful for preliminary biomonitoring of samples for PAHs and other Ah receptor ligands. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||